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P6911

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ID Number: P6911
Item Name: Image
Title: Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway in Leamington / Compagnie de chemin de fer Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway à Leamington
Title (Fre): Compagnie de chemin de fer Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway à Leamington
Date: ca 1915
Description: Black and white photograph of the Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore (WE&LS) Railway electric railway car in Leamington, looking north up Erie Street from Mill Street; the train is stationary on the left side of the photograph; "Windsor Essex Lake Shore" is painted on the side near the top of the car; numerous men in uniform are leaning out the windows reaching out to people on the street and two men are standing in the doorway at the front; the right side of the photograph is full of men, women & children seeing the men off; buildings are visible on both sides of the street and there is a second set of railway tracks visible in the foreground.
History: Charter for the Windsor, Essex & Lakeshore Rapid Railway (Interurban) was enacted in 1901. Construction began in 1905 and, following several delays, two cars, Republic and Earl Gray, opened the line to Kingsville. Service opened to Windsor town centre on November 2nd and the Leamington service commenced on April 22, 1908. Pantograph power pick-up cars operated on 6600 volts AC power supplied from the company's Kingsville powerhouse. During the first years ridership grew, peaking in 1921, however, by 1923 highway completion began taking its toll. In 1927 the Hydro-Electric Power Commission (HEPC) purchased the WE&LS for $296,000. In 1930 the HEPC purchased five modern cars, converted the power system from AC to 600 volts DC and built three substations at Maidstone, Cottam and Ruthven, closing the Kingsville powerhouse. Revenues continued to drop during the depression and on September 15, 1932, the last car operated on the line. Equipment was stored for later sale and in 1935 the rail was removed and sold.
Place made: Canada - Ontario - Leamington
Collection Name: Museum Windsor